TRANSITIONS

By Eric E. Harrison

Posted: June 12, 2014 at 2:01 a.m.

Credit: Democrat-Gazette file photo
Donnie Ferneau Jr.

Donnie Ferneau Jr. announced last week on his Good Food by Ferneau Facebook page that he's taking over the former Argenta Market space, 521 Main St., North Little Rock. No date yet when he'll move his catering/takeout business, focusing on gluten- and sugar-free meals for people with active lifestyles and athletes, from the kitchens of Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church, 4401 Woodlawn Ave., in Little Rock's Hillcrest. Nor did we hear back from Ferneau on deadline as to the status of his new restaurant, The Still, or whether he'll open it in the still-in-development Hall-Davidson Building, 200 block of West Capitol Avenue in downtown Little Rock, as he had planned, or move that to Argenta as well. We'll keep you posted; in the meanwhile, check out Ferneau's current enterprise -- call (501) 804-8604, email goodfoodbyferneau@gmail.com or visit goodfoodbyferneau.com.

One of our sharp-eyed correspondents reports that according to signs posted at Lemongrass Asian Bistro, 4629 E. McCain Blvd., North Little Rock, the restaurant's last day of operation will be Sunday; the owners are moving back to Missoula, Mont. The Lemongrass phone number is (501) 945-4638.

Friday is the target date for the reopening ofLe Pops, which closed in the River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall in December, at 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd. in Little Rock's Heights, next door to Eggshells. Co-owner Laurie Harrison says on the Facebook page that they'll be offering "our fresh and natural pops that we have provided for more than two years now, along with shaved ices made with natural syrups. We will also have some other new treats that we are excited to introduce." Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (501) 313-9558; the website, Lepops.com.

And speaking of the Heights, late summer is the target date for the opening ofPizzeria Santa Lucia,a popular pizzeria food truck moving into brick-and-mortar quarters atTerry's Finer Foods, just down the street at 5018 Kavanaugh. The space previously housedTerry's Finer Foods the Restaurant, which moved to the other side of the high-end grocery store earlier this year, and before that the Heights outlet of Sue's Pie Shop.

Another Round Pub and Grill is moving into the space in the Rock Creek Square Plaza Shopping Center, 12111 W. Markham St., Little Rock, vacated a couple of years ago by The Villa. Says owner Steve Childress on Facebook: "It has been a longtime dream of mine to own and operate not only a restaurant and pub, but a place that is a destination for people ... a place where everyone feels welcome. Another Round Pub will also offer a variety in live musical entertainment with an emphasis on blues and jazz." We only got a busy signal in our attempts to reach the listed phone number, (501) 313-2612, by deadline. The website is anotherroundpub.com.

Conway's Log Cabin Democrat reports that aKrispy Kremeoutlet is planned for half an acre betweenTaco Bueno and Hardee's on Dave Ward Drive in that city. Dennis Porter, who heads up a management group that operates Sonic Drive-In franchises throughout central Arkansas, will be the franchisee and hopes to break ground sometime this month; no word yet on a target opening date. The store will, according to the newspaper report, have comfortable coffeehouse seating inside, and an outside patio with a drive-through window. And as with most Krispy Kreme outlets, the store will include a window inside where you can watch the doughnuts being made and glazed.

And a recent online survey by Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Greenville, S.C.-based Michelin North America, the company that makes tires and publishes restaurant guides, shows that on average, Americans say they usually tip 18 percent for good service when dining out -- 70 percent say they usually tip 15 to 20 percent for good service when dining out, and one in 10 Americans say they typically tip more than that. Just 1 percent said they leave nothing for good service. Younger adults said they usually leave less. Diners in the Northeast are more charitable tippers than those in other regions; 22 percent of diners in the South say they normally tip less than 15 percent. (The survey didn't break that down state by state.) Harris surveyed 2,019 adults 18 and older online, Dec. 11-13, 2013, and because the survey is not based on a probability sample, there is no estimate of theoretical sampling error.

Has a restaurant opened -- or closed -- near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send email to: